Jude Grimm, 2, of Red Lion, peers through a fence to watch a toy train during Christmas Magic at Rocky Ridge County Park. It's not just the snow that keeps the light show from happening, damp grounds and rain cause the lights to be turned off. (Kate Penn — Daily Record/Sunday News)

Even Christmas Magic can't trick the weather.

When the forecast is uncooperative with the lights display housed at Rocky Ridge County Park -- as it has been for a good part of this season -- it can be frustrating, according to Jeri Jones, the program coordinator for York County Parks.

"The last 10 to 15 days have been deplorable," Jones said Thursday. "We at one point, through the weekend, we had lost six days out of 10 days. We were only open four days in that 10-day span because of the snow, ice and rain."

Jones explained that it's not just what the skies look like on a given night that determines if Christmas Magic will be open.

"Our system at Rocky Ridge has ground fault interrupters," he said. "When things get wet, they turn off the lights so nobody gets shocked. It's a safety thing."

So when it rains, or when the equipment at Rocky Ridge is damp or wet from melting snow or ice -- like that which fell during recent storms -- the electricity won't turn on.

"Obviously, we can't have a light show without electricity," Jones said.

Add to the weather woes the loss of days because Thanksgiving landed later in November this year, and it's not too tough to do the math.

"We've actually been comparing our (attendance) numbers with 2005," since that's the last time Thanksgiving fell so late in the year, Jones said. "So right now, we're 3,000 people behind that (attendance) number."

Jones said the cost of admission for Christmas Magic supports the York County Parks. They're nearing the point where they will break even this year, after accounting for expenses like paying the staff.

"We get hurt when the weather plays with us," Jones said.

The same goes for another core Christmas business.

Gerrit Strathmeyer, co-owner of Strathmeyer Christmas Trees, said snowy weather, though seasonal, isn't the best for Christmas tree shopping.

Melvin Stiffler of Dallastown watches a toy train with his great grandchildren Corbin Myers, 5, left, and Kaya Myers, 1, during Christmas Magic at Rocky Ridge County Park. With the wet winter weather we've been having, Christmas Magic has been closed many days. It's best to call first before going. (Kate Penn — Daily Record/Sunday News)

"When people want to come out and cut their Christmas trees, and it snows ... where the weather man is saying to stay off the roads, that's not good for our cut your own" trees, he said. Fortunately, tree lots like the one Strathmeyer runs at the York Expo Center in the city, do well.

This weekend

The National Weather Service is predicting warm and wet weather this weekend, with temperatures forecast to be in the 50s and 60s. The southern part of the county could see temperatures in the 70s.

If you're planning to visit Christmas Magic, make sure the light show is on before you go. Visit their website through this story at ydr.com or call the Christmas Magic hot line at 717-840-7443 to find out if the display is running.

If you're planning to pick out a Christmas tree this weekend, you can learn more about Strathmeyer Christmas Trees by visiting www.strathmeyerchristmastrees.com.

Strathmeyer will have an indoor display of trees for sale at the York Expo Center from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.